Acoustically enhanced pet animal collar for health and vital signs monitoring, alert and diagnosis

ABSTRACT

An acoustically enhanced collar for monitoring vital signs of a pet animal, may comprise an elastic band having a working surface configured to wrap around a neck of a pet animal and an oppositely faced rear surface, at least one sensor element situated along a circumference of the band and configured to measure at least one bioparameter from the following bioparameters: temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, movement; at least one acoustic concentrator projecting as a bump toward the neck from the working surface on a first side of the at least one sensor element; at least one acoustic concentrator projecting as a bump toward the portion from the working surface on a second side of the at least one sensor element and acoustic balancers projecting from the rear surface at least partly behind the acoustic concentrators. Preferably, the acoustic concentrators and balancers have a base end having an “X” shape.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatuses and methods for monitoringvital signs and health of animals, and, more particularly for monitoringthe health and vital signs of pet animals, such as dogs and cats, anddoing so using a specially designed collar.

When animals, including pets such as dogs and cats, are sick they tendby nature to withdraw and hide since they feel defenseless. Thisbehavior makes treatment of the animal significantly more difficult.With regard to pet animals, such as dogs and cats, it is known forveterinarians to check the vital signs of a sick dog or a sick cat.However, this tends to occur long after the animal has contracted themedical problem either because the dog or cat was hiding and/or becauseit takes time to reach the veterinarian. Early detection is often notachieved yet is very important in order to achieve less suffering of thepet and less likelihood of acute disease, which can develop if detectionoccurs late. Regarding ear infections in a dog, for example, accordingto Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), this is the most common medicalcondition affecting dogs in 2010 and “identifying changes or rednessearly will help dogs and cats avoid more irritating, painful andexpensive ear infections. The longer a problem is allowed to persist,the more difficult it is to treat.”.

Moreover, stray dogs and cats, as well as dogs and cats whose owners arenot constantly with them as a practical matter, and dogs and cats whoseowners are on vacation, are more vulnerable to contracting an illness,exhibiting hiding behavior patterns and decreasing the chances of timelymedical intervention.

In addition, monitoring the health of captive animals, for exampleanimals in zoos, is an arduous and expensive task. Although Applicanthas filed a patent application for a pet collar that is adjustable,there is a compelling need using a non-invasive apparatus to capture thedifferent sounds such as pulse, respiration, panting, vomiting and moremade by a pet animal or other captive animals. The sounds tend to bevery low frequency signals. If one were to utilize a very sensitivesensor on the pet's neck to capture these signals/vibrations, one wouldhave to make the collar very tight around the neck, which is notpractical with regard to the animal's behavior and comfort.

There is a compelling need to have an apparatus and method that willprovide early detection and diagnosis of pet animals such as dogs andcats, and to do so accurately and efficiently without interfering withthe comfort and behavior of the animal.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is an acoustically enhanced collarfor monitoring vital signs of a pet animal, comprising an annular bandcomprising a layer of an elastic material, the band having a workingsurface configured to wrap around a portion of a pet animal and a rearsurface facing an opposite direction to the working surface; at leastone sensor element situated at one or more regions along a circumferenceof the band and configured to measure at least one bioparameter from thefollowing bioparameters: temperature, heart rate, respiration rate,movement; at least two acoustic concentrators projecting toward a bodyportion of the pet animal from the working surface at the one or moreregions along the circumference; at least two acoustic balancersprojecting from the rear surface at the one or more regions along thecircumference, the at least two acoustic balancers situated at a regionalong the circumference at least partly behind the at least two acousticconcentrators, each of the at least two acoustic concentrators wider ata concentrator base end adjacent the working surface than at aconcentrator top end, each of the at least two acoustic balancers widerat a balancer base end adjacent the rear surface than at a balancer topend.

A further aspect of the present invention is a method of monitoringvital signs of a pet animal, the method comprising providing an elasticband configured to wrap around a portion of the pet animal and having aworking surface and a rear surface, at least one sensor element situatedat one or more regions along a circumference of the band and configuredto measure at least one bioparameter from the following bioparameters:temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, movement; configuring theelastic band with at least one acoustic concentrator projecting from theworking surface toward the portion of the pet animal, the at least oneacoustic concentrator situated at the one or more regions along thecircumference and on a first side of the at least one sensor;configuring the elastic band with at least one acoustic balancerprojecting from the rear surface and situated at the one or more regionsalong the circumference and on a second side of the at least one sensorelement, the at least one left acoustic balancer located in a positionalong the circumference at least partly behind the at least one acousticconcentrator; and transmitting electronic signals from the sensorelements to a processor, the signals reflecting vital sign measurementsof the pet animal.

A still further aspect of the present invention is an acousticallyenhanced collar for monitoring vital signs of a pet animal, comprising aband comprising a layer of an elastic material, the band having aworking surface configured to wrap around a portion of a pet animal andan oppositely faced rear surface; at least one sensor element situatedat one, or more regions along a circumference of the band and configuredto measure at least one bioparameter from the following bioparameters:temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, movement; at least oneacoustic concentrator projecting as a bump toward the portion from theworking surface, the at least one acoustic concentrator situated at theone or more regions along the circumference and on a first side of theat least one sensor element; and at least one acoustic balancerprojecting as a bump from the rear surface and situated at the one ormore regions along the circumference and on a second side of the atleast one sensor element.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, descriptions and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments are herein described, by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of an opened collar, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the collar of FIG. 1, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of an opened collar, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is an enlarged sectional view of a portion along thecircumference of the collar showing a piezoelectric element inside theband, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a vertical sectional view of a cross-shaped acousticconcentrator, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4B is a bottom view of the acoustic concentrator of FIG. 4A, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a vertical sectional view of a solid acoustic concentrator,in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a bottom view of the acoustic concentrator of FIG. 5A, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6A is a vertical sectional view of a dot shaped acousticconcentrator, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6B is a bottom view of the acoustic concentrator of FIG. 6A, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7A is a vertical sectional view of a cross-shaped acousticbalancer, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7B is a bottom view of the acoustic balancer of FIG. 7A, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8A is a vertical sectional view of a solid acoustic balancer, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8B is a bottom view of the acoustic balancer of FIG. 8A, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9A is a vertical sectional view of a dot shaped acoustic balancer,in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9B is a bottom view of the acoustic balancer of FIG. 9A, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a method, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be takenin a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustratingthe general principles of the invention, since the scope of theinvention is best defined by the appended claims.

The present invention generally provides a collar for pet animals suchas dogs and cats. The collar mat include an annular band comprising alayer of an elastic material, the band having a working surfaceconfigured to wrap around a neck or other portion of a pet animal and arear surface facing an opposite direction to the working surface. Thecollar may also have at least one sensor element situated at one or moreregions along a circumference of the band and configured to measure atleast one bioparameter from the following bioparameters: temperature,heart rate, respiration rate, movement. At least one acousticconcentrator, in the form of a bump, may project toward the neck orother body portion of the pet animal from the working surface at the oneor more regions along the circumference. In addition, at least oneacoustic balancer may projecting from the rear surface at the one ormore regions along the circumference. The at least one acoustic balancermay be situated at a region along the circumference at least partlybehind and preferably directly behind the at least one acousticconcentrators. Each of the acoustic concentrators may be wider at aconcentrator base end adjacent the working surface than at aconcentrator top end and likewise each of the acoustic balancers may bewider at a balancer base end adjacent the rear surface than at abalancer top end. Preferably, the acoustic concentrators and preferablyalso the balancers have an X-shaped cross-section.

The collar may have sensor elements that can be activated remotely tocheck vital signs of the animal (such as respiration, pulse, temperatureand movement) and a processor that can interpret the results of multiplevital sign readings. The collar may also have a two way communicationdevice attached or integrated thereto that can alert the pet owner, aveterinarian or the authorities, when appropriate, that a pet animal issuffering from a particular condition or is exhibiting suspiciousbehavior or movements. This way, a veterinarian can remotely take aparticular vital sign measurement when alerted of the data by signallingthe processor to actuate a particular sensor element. The sensorelements that may be embedded in the band of the collar may gather datathat can be processed on the collar itself or transmitted to a remoteterminal, which can be a home computer, a hand-held device, or a mainserver computer. In order to dramatically improve the system gain,sensitivity and signal to noise ratio (SNR), an elastic layer may absorbnoise from friction due to movement of the animal's head.

In contrast to prior art pet animal collars, which do not measure vitalsigns, the pet collar of the present invention may measure vital signsof the pet animal. For example, it may measure, heart rate, respirationrate, blood pressure, temperature, movement, etc. In further contrast toprior art pet collars, the collar may include a processor and mayinterpret the interdependence of the vital sign measurements made by thesensor array to arrive at a tentative diagnosis that may be relayed to aveterinarian, the pet owner and/or to the authorities. In furthercontrast to prior art methods and apparatuses of monitoring the petanimals' vital signs, which may interfere with the pet animal'sbehavior, for example because the collar has to be too tight, or whichmay not be sufficiently effective in capturing the low frequency soundsmade by the animal, due to the fur of the animal around the neck of theanimal, the collar and method of the present invention may provide aneffective method of monitoring the vital signs and diagnosing the healthcondition of the pet animal accurately without adversely affecting thebehavior or comfort of the animal. Despite its accuracy, the collar mayonly need to gently touch the animal's neck, for example through itsfur, at several points around the neck. In still further contrast to theprior art animal pet collars, such as dog collars, in which signal tonoise ratio precludes remote telecommunication reception of vital signparameters, the collar of the present invention may include a layer ofelastic material that may improve the sensitivity, gain and signal tonoise ratio by absorbing friction from constant movement of the dog orpet's head. In still further contrast to the prior art collars, whichmay not be accurate in capturing the low frequency sounds made by theanimal, the collar and method of the present invention may utilize anacoustically enhanced collar whose band for positioning on a neck of thepet animal may have a working surface and a rear surface, at least twoacoustic concentrators projecting toward a neck of the pet animal fromthe working surface on one side of the at least one sensor element andat least two acoustic balancers projecting from the rear surface on theother side of the at least one sensor. An acoustic balancer may bepositioned at least partly behind a corresponding acoustic concentrator,and in some preferred embodiments the positioning may be such that mostor all of the acoustic concentrators have an acoustic balancer at leastpartly behind it on opposite sides of the band. In further contrast toprior art collars, in which the structure of the device does notoptimize capturing the low frequency sound by creating a balancedacoustic signal that is readable and able to be parsed, the collar ofthe present invention may have enhanced ability to convert lowmechanical pulses to electrical signals of reasonable magnitude fortransmission to the processor and thereby capture the low frequencysound effectively as a balanced acoustic signal that is readable andable to be parsed. Furthermore, in contrast to the prior art, theacoustic enhancers (concentrators and balancers) of the collar of thepresent invention may pertain this function while simultaneouslyreducing total noise by reducing relative movement between the collarand the pet animal's head when the pet animal's head moves. The acousticconcentrators in the form of bumps may prevent occasional rotation ofthe collar relative to the neck of the animal. Instead, the collar ofthe present invention may move with the animal's head when the animalturns its head due to the inward facing acoustic concentrators. Keepingthe collar at the desired place may be critical both for the accuracy ofthe acoustic sensor and for the accuracy of the acceleration/positionsensor that may be on the collar. In further contrast to prior artsensor devices on collars, the structure each of the at least oneacoustic concentrator may be wider at a concentrator base end adjacentthe working surface than at a concentrator top end, and each of theacoustic balancers may be wider at a balancer base end adjacent the rearsurface than at a balancer top end. In further contrast to the priorart, the collar may include substantially semispherical acousticconcentrators and acoustic balancers. In contrast to the prior artstructure of collars, in some preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, the acoustic concentrators and acoustic balancers, which maycomprise bumps that may be integrally formed with the band and that aremade of the same material as the band, may comprise X-shapedconcentrator base ends and balancer base ends, and/or X-shapedcross-sections, which may include perpendicular diameters. For exampleeach concentrator base end of at least one acoustic concentrator of theat least two acoustic concentrators may have a cross-section shaped likean X inside a substantially closed curve and in some preferredembodiments each balancer base end of the at least two acousticbalancers may comprise an X-shape inside a substantially closed curve.The cross-section of an acoustic balancer may be shaped like an X insidea substantially closed curve. In some other preferred embodiments, theacoustic concentrators and acoustic balancers are solid and not hollow.In still further contrast to the prior art structure, the acousticconcentrators and acoustic balancers have a diameter of between 5 and 7millimeters in some preferred embodiments. In further contrast to theprior art, the collar may have two-way communication so that aveterinarian can instruct the collar to measure a particular vital signremotely. In addition, the collar of the present invention may also havea GPS and communications system for alerting remote personnel so that ifthe pet animal is ill, or if a captive animal in a zoo escapes itsenclosure, an immediate alarm can be sounded and an alert transmitted todesignated authorities and veterinarians. In contrast to prior artmethods and apparatuses of monitoring vital signs which are sometimesinvasive, the present invention may involve a non-invasive apparatusthat may be worn on the animal's collar. In contrast to prior artcollars, which may monitor vital signs but which may not simultaneouslyalert health practitioners/authorities and assist in diagnosing thehealth condition of the pet animal, the collar of the present inventionmay be effective to accomplishing both in a single device.

As used in this patent application, the term “solid” refers to howhollow the material is as opposed to how rigid it is.

The principles and operation of a method and apparatus for anacoustically enhanced pet animal collar for health & vital signsmonitoring, alert and diagnosis may be better understood with referenceto the drawings and the accompanying description.

As seen from FIGS. 1-3, the present invention may be described as anacoustically enhanced collar 10 for monitoring vital signs of a petanimal. Collar 10 may include a band 20 that may comprise a layer of anelastic material, for example polyurethane. The elastic material mayinclude any kind of plastic or other flexible material, although in apreferred embodiment, elastic material may comprise polyurethane. Theband 20 may be configured for cushioning repetitive instances offriction against the collar 10 from movement of the head of the petanimal. Although the remainder of this application may refer primarilyto the “neck” of the pet animal, it should be understood that otherportions of the animal may also hold the collar.

Band 20 may have a working surface 20 a that may be configured to wraparound a portion of a pet animal, for example a neck of the animal whichmay be a dog, and may have a rear surface 20 b that may face an oppositedirection from working surface 20 a. For example, working surface 20 amay face the animal's neck and rear surface 20 b may face a viewerlooking directly at the band 20 of the collar 10 on the neck of theanimal. Band 20 (and collar 10) may be approximately two inches wide andmay cover an entire circumference of the neck of the pet (oralternatively most or a portion of this circumference). There may besensors 30, for example four or more sensor elements 30 at differentpoints of the band, preferably at different points along a length orcircumference of band 20. There may be other numbers of sensor elements,such as one, two, three, five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten and more.

Each acoustic concentrator 22 may have a concentrator base end 23, whichrefers to the base of the acoustic concentrator adjacent the workingsurface 22 a, (see FIGS. 4B, 5B, 6B). Each acoustic concentrator 22 mayhave a concentrator top end 25 (see FIGS. 4A, 5A, 6A), the endprojecting furthest from the band 20 and closest to the animal's neck,for example. Likewise, each acoustic balancer 24 may have a balancerbase end 27 (see FIGS. 7B, 8B, 9B) and a balancer top end 29 (see FIGS.7A, 8A, 9A).

In a preferred embodiment, in which we consider an acoustic concentrator22 and an acoustic balancer 24 to constitute a “pair” as shown forexample in FIG. 3, there are at least two pairs of acousticconcentrators 22 and acoustic balancers 24 for each sensor element 30,32. The at least one sensor element 30 (on the left side of the band 20)and the at least one sensor element 32 on the right side of band 20 mayeach comprise a piezoelectric material which in a preferred embodimentmay be embedded inside band 20.

If there are two sensors elements, then the sensors 30 may be connectedin parallel electrically (the at least one sensor element 30 maycomprise two physically separated sensors connected electrically). Onecan also define the two sensor elements 30 as one distributed sensorelement. Positioning two sensors 30 on the two sides of the neck of theanimal may provide a guaranteed contact with the body regardless ofmovement or position.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, collar 10 may have at least one acousticconcentrator 22 projecting from the band 20 towards the neck (not shown)of the pet animal (not shown). The acoustic concentrator 22 may touchthe skin of the pet and absorb the noise from friction while conductingthe signal and may penetrate the fur on the neck of the animal withoutcausing the animal discomfort. This may be arranged by configuring theheight of the projection (its length from the sensor element 30substantially perpendicularly toward the neck of the pet animal) andthereby controlling how far the acoustic concentrator projects towardthe direction of the neck of the pet animal. The comfort of the petanimal may be verified by testing the collar on various pet animals ofthe particular species.

In one preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, collar 10 mayinclude at least one sensor element 30 situated at one or more regionsalong a circumference of the band 20 and configured to measure at leastone bioparameter relating to vital signs of the animal. The term“region” is not intended to indicate how much length the region has andthe region can be as long as the band 20 or as narrow as a line,although as shown in FIG. 3, it is preferably elongated along acircumference of the band 20. In a preferred embodiment, the at leastone sensor element may be configured to measure at least onebioparameter from the following bioparameters: temperature, heart rate,respiration rate, movement. Preferably, the at least one sensor elementis configured to measure at least two of the bioparameters, and morepreferably at least three and most preferably all four of them.

In one preferred embodiment, collar 10 may have at least two acousticconcentrators 22, projecting toward a neck or other portion of the petanimal from the working surface 20 a at the one or more regions alongthe circumference of the band 20 that the at least one sensor elementmay be situated in. Likewise, collar 10 may have at least two acousticbalancers 24 projecting from the rear surface 20 b at the one or moreregions along the circumference of band 20 that the at least one sensorelement may be situated in. As seen from FIG. 3, the at least twoacoustic balancers 24 may be situated at a region along thecircumference of the band 20 that is at least partly behind the at leasttwo acoustic concentrators the at least one sensor 30, the at least twoacoustic balancers situated opposite the at least two acousticconcentrators. Preferably, the at least two acoustic concentrators andthe at least two acoustic balancers are situated so that one acousticconcentrator is directly opposite one corresponding acoustic balancer,as shown in FIG. 3. In some preferred embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3,the base end 23 of at least one acoustic balancer 24 is at least as wideas the base end 27 of the acoustic concentrator 22 that it is behind.More preferably, the one acoustic concentrator that is opposite itscorresponding one acoustic balancer is of the same or similar shape asthe corresponding one acoustic balancer. This may mean that a paircomprising one acoustic concentrator 22 and one acoustic balancer 24 atleast partly behind it have the same overall shape, but in otherpreferred embodiments, it may mean that they have the same width, orthat they have the same cross-section or the same shape at their baseend 23 (the end facing the band 20) or the same width at their base end,or both have perpendicular diameters at their base ends or otherstructural similarities.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention may comprise anacoustically enhanced collar for monitoring vital, signs of a pet animalcomprising a band 20, for example annular band 20, comprising a layer ofan elastic material, the band having a working surface 20 a configuredto wrap around a portion of a pet animal (such as a neck) and anoppositely faced rear surface 20 b. The neck is a particularly suitableportion of the pet animal to monitor since it not only allows listeningacoustically to two major blood vessels (arteries) but also monitoring abreathing pipe (the windpipe).

As shown in FIGS. 1-2, band 20 may have a first side 21 a and a secondside 21 b along its circumference. These “sides” may be portions of thecircumference of band 20, for example on each side of a centrallylocated sensor element 33 (FIG. 3) (for example a temperature sensor 33a for measuring body temperature as shown in FIG. 2 and a temperaturesensor 33 b for measuring ambient temperature as shown in FIG. 1) andthese “sides” should not be confused with the “vertically” oppositesides (working surface and rear surface) of or in relation to a sensorelement 30 that the acoustic concentrators 22 and acoustic balancers 24may be on. The first side 21 a along the circumference of the band 20may be on the left side of the neck of the animal and the second side 21b along the circumference of the band 20 may be the right side of theneck of the animal or vice versa. This may allow a most preferableembodiment in which at least one sensor element is positioned on thefirst side of the neck and at least one sensor element is positioned onthe second side of the neck. FIG. 3 also shows a central portion 21 c ofthe circumference of band 20 that may be located between sides 21 a, 21b.

At least one sensor element 30 may be situated at one or more regionsalong a circumference of the band 20, and the at least one sensorelement 30 may be configured to measure at least one bioparameter fromthe following bioparameters: temperature, heart rate, respiration rate,movement. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, collar 10 may also include atleast one acoustic concentrator 22 projecting as a bump toward theportion of the animal (for example the neck) from the working surface 20a. The at least one acoustic concentrator 22 may be situated at the oneor more regions along the circumference and on a first vertical side(vertically speaking by reference to FIG. 3) of the at least one sensorelement 30 that may be embedded in the band 20 (see FIG. 3). As alsoseen from FIGS. 2-3, at least one acoustic balancer 24 may be situatedalong the one or more regions of the circumference and may be projectingas a bump from the rear surface 20 b of the band 20 on a second verticalside of the at least one sensor element. The position of the at leastone acoustic balancer along the circumference of the band may be that itis at least partly behind, and preferably directly behind, the at leastone acoustic concentrator 22.

As also shown in FIG. 3, a similar arrangement may exist on the otherside 21 b of the circumference of the band 20 with another at least onesensor 30 and another at least one acoustic concentrator 22 and anotherat least one acoustic balancer 24 similarly configured for examplebehind, and preferably directly behind, the at least one acousticconcentrator 22. This may allow monitoring both sides of the neck of theanimal.

One or two or preferably all of the at least one acoustic concentrator22 are wider at a concentrator base end 23 adjacent the working surface20 a than at a concentrator top end 25. One or two or preferably all ofthe at least one acoustic balancers 24 are wider at a balancer base end27 adjacent the rear surface 20 b than at a balancer top end 29. In onepreferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 4A-6B, the at least one acousticconcentrator 22 and the at least one acoustic balancer 24 aresubstantially circular in at least one dimension. An acousticconcentrator 22 of the at least one acoustic concentrator may besubstantially semispherical. An acoustic balancer of the least oneacoustic balancer may be substantially semispherical and may be locatedat least partly behind, and preferably directly behind, the acousticbalancer of the at least one acoustic concentrator on the first side 21a that is substantially semispherical. In other embodiments, the leastone acoustic concentrator may be substantially semi-cylindrical (notshown) and the at least one acoustic balancer may be substantiallysemi-cylindrical (not shown) and located at least partly behind andpreferably directly behind the one of the at least one acousticconcentrators that is substantially semispherical.

In a preferred embodiment of the structure of the bumps comprising theacoustic concentrators 22 shown in FIGS. 4A-4B, each concentrator baseend 23 of the at least one acoustic concentrator 22 may comprise anX-shape and may have perpendicular diameters. For example, theconcentrator base end 23 of at least one acoustic concentrator maycomprise an X-shape 23 a inside a substantially closed curve. In apreferred embodiment of the structure of the bumps comprising theacoustic balancers 24 shown in FIGS. 7A-7B, each balancer base end 27 ofthe at least one acoustic balancer 24 may comprise an X-shape and mayhave perpendicular diameters. For example, the balancer base end 27 ofat least one acoustic balancer 24 may comprise an X-shape inside asubstantially closed curve. Although the examples in FIGS. 7A-9B appearidentical to those of FIGS. 4A-6B, this does not preclude the acousticbalancers 24 from being of a different size for example wider, than theacoustic concentrators 22, as shown in FIG. 3.

It should be understood that references to an “X-shape” or “X” in thispatent application include such shapes whether the lines of the “X” meetat right angles or at smaller or larger angles. A most preferredembodiment of the X-shape in this patent application is where the linesof the “X” meet at perpendicular angles or substantially perpendicularangles (80 to 100 degrees).

In a different embodiment shown in FIG. 6A-6B, each concentrator baseend 23 of the at least one acoustic concentrator 22 may comprise acentral dot 23 b connected to the concentrator top end along a linearaxis 28.

The acoustic concentrators 22 may be designed to optimize the acoustictransmission of sound vibrations from the pet animal's neck to thesensor element 30 in the band 20. In order to accomplish their purpose,the acoustic concentrators 22 and acoustic balancers 24 of the collar 10may vary in terms of their size and in terms of their shape. With regardto their shape, an important aspect of their shape is the configurationof the base end of the acoustic concentrator or balancer. The base endof the acoustic concentrator (concentrator base end) and the base end ofthe acoustic balancer (balancer base end) are each be closer to thesensor element 30 than the respective top ends (concentrator top end andbalancer top end).

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4A, 5A, 6A, one or two or preferably all of the atleast two acoustic concentrators 22 may be wider at a concentrator baseend 23 adjacent the working surface 20 a than at a concentrator top end25. Likewise, as shown in FIGS. 3, 7A, 8A, 9A, one or preferably each ofthe at least two acoustic balancers 24 may be wider at a balancer baseend 27 adjacent the rear surface 20 b than at a balancer top end 29. Theterm “projecting” refers to the fact that the acoustic concentrators 22and balancers 24 may project beyond the surface of the band 20, whichmay be relatively flat other than the acoustic concentrators andbalancers. Although, these projections have been referred to as “bumps”,the term “bump” is not intended as a limitation on the shape of theprojections, although in many preferred embodiments, the “bumps” looklike curved protrusions akin to a bump. In certain preferredembodiments, the acoustic concentrators 22 and acoustic balancers 24 arerounded and symmetrical.

Preferably, there are at least four sensor elements 30. Each sensorelement 30 may be a strip of two inches to six inches in lengthdepending on the size of the collar 10. In a preferred embodiment, thereare at least two acoustic concentrators for each sensor element. Forexample, in one preferred embodiment where the sensor element is two andthree-quarters inches, there may be four acoustic concentrators for thatsensor 30. Acoustic concentrators 22 and acoustic balancers 24 may belocated at the opposite sides of the sensor, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.3. The collar 10 contains two sensors located symmetrically at the leftand right sides of the neck.

The acoustic concentrators and the acoustic balancers may be integrallyformed with the band and may be made of the same material as the band.For example, the bumps (acoustic concentrators and acoustic balancers)may be formed at the same time that the band is formed. Preferably, eachof the at least two acoustic concentrators 22 are shaped like a bump,for example like a bump that diminishes in diameter from theconcentrator base end to the concentrator top end. Likewise, preferably,each of the acoustic balancers are shaped like a bump, for example likea bump that diminishes in diameter from the balancer base end to thebalancer top end. The bumps, in a preferred embodiment, may be mostlyhollow except for particular structural elements in particular shapesthat may fill the void of the hollow.

The acoustic concentrators 22 (or one particular acoustic concentratorof the at least one acoustic concentrator) and the acoustic balancers 24(or one particular acoustic balancer of the at least one acousticbalancer) may be mathematically elliptical, for example substantiallycircular, in at least one dimension. Preferably, they may besubstantially circular in two dimensions. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4B,5B, 6B, at least one, and preferably at least two, of the acousticconcentrators are substantially semispherical. Preferably, the shape ofan acoustic balancer 24 mirrors the shape of the acoustic concentrators22 that the balancer 24 faces on the opposite side of the band 20.Accordingly, preferably, at least one, and preferably at least two, ofthe at least two acoustic balancers 24 are substantially semispherical.In a different preferred embodiment (not shown), at least one of the atleast two acoustic concentrators 22 is substantially semi-cylindricaland at least one of the at least two acoustic balancers 24 may also besubstantially semi-cylindrical in this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 6A-6B, each concentrator base end of the at least oneor the at least two acoustic concentrators 22 may comprise a central dot23 b connected to the concentrator top end 25 along a linear axis 28. Asshown in FIGS. 9A-9B, each balancer base end 27 of the at least one orthe at least two acoustic balancers 24 may comprise a central dot 23 bconnected to a balancer top end 29 along a linear axle 28. In thisembodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6A-6B and 9A-9B each acoustic concentrator22 and each acoustic balancer 24 may be hollow except for the centraldot and linear axle.

In the preferred embodiment of the concentrator base end 23 and thebalancer base end 27, shown respectively in FIG. 4B and FIG. 7B, theX-shape 23 a or perpendicular diameters may appear in a closed curve ora substantially closed curve. The “closed curve” may be a circularperimeter. As shown in FIG. 4B and FIG. 7B, the circular perimeter 23 aaof the X-shape may be thicker than a thin outer perimeter and could insome preferred embodiments be thick enough to occupy 10% to 20% of thediameter/width of the concentrator base end 23 or of the balancer baseend 29 (and in certain other preferred embodiments 5% to 10% or 15% to30% or 3% to 6% or about 3% or about 5%, or about 10%, or about 15%, orabout 20%, or about 25% or about 30% or other numbers depending on theembodiment of the diameter/width of the concentrator base end 23 or ofthe balancer base end 29). This proportion presupposes that thethickness of the perimeter is included in the calculation only once (nottwice due to the two parts of the perimeter appearing 180 degrees apartfrom on another). As shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 7A, the cross-section ofthe acoustic concentrators 22 and the acoustic balancers 24 may in theshape of an “X”.

In certain other preferred embodiments, the acoustic concentrators andacoustic balancers are solid, as shown in FIG. 5B and FIG. 8B.

Depending on the shape, the bumps comprising the acoustic concentratorsand acoustic balancers may have a diameter of between 5 and 7millimeters. Depending on the shape, the acoustic concentrators andacoustic balancers may also have a height of between 5 and 7millimeters.

As a result of the acoustic concentrators and acoustic balancers, thesignal to noise ratio expressed using the logarithmic decibel scale maybe at least 20 dB and in some preferred embodiments between 20 dB and 40dB. The typical pulse amplitude is between 300 and 500 mV, as defined bythe gain setting of the amplifier (not shown).

In general, sensor elements 30 may be at least one sensor element 30designed or configured to measure at least one bioparameter from amongtemperature, heart rate, respiration rate and movement. Alternatively,the sensor element may be for measured a different vital sign. Therecould be more sensor elements and more bioparameters. For example, theat least one sensor element 30 may comprise at least two sensor elements30 that may be configured or designed to measure at least twobioparameters from among temperature, heart rate, respiration andmovement. Alternatively, the at least two sensor elements 30 may be formeasuring at least two bioparameters from among temperature, heart rate,respiration rate and movement (or alternatively other vital signs). Onesensor element may measure multiple bioparameters, for example, in thecase of an acoustic sensor that measures respiration rate and heartrate. The at least two sensor elements may comprise four or more sensorelements designed to measure four or more bioparameters or specificallythose four: temperature, heart rate, respiration rate and movement. Insome preferred embodiments, the array of sensor elements 30 are designedto measure one or two bioparameters (in other preferred embodimentsthree or four) from the following bioparameters: temperature, heartrate, respiration rate, movement (for example horizontal and verticalmovement).

The sensor elements 30 may be designed or configured to measure at leasttwo different vital sign bioparameters as well as to measure certainbioparameters, such as movement, that may be useful in understanding apet's vital signs when combined with other vital sign bioparameters.Each of the various sensor elements 30 on the band 20 may be designedfor measuring a different vital sign parameter or in some cases theremay be more than one sensor element measuring a particular vital signbioparameter or more than one vital sign measured by a particular sensorelement 30.

A sensor array (not shown) may include an acoustic sensor element formeasuring pulse (heart rate) and an acoustic sensor for measuringrespiration rate. Such a sensor array may include an accelerometer tomeasure movement and vibrations of air traveling through the pet's aircanals during inhaling and exhaling motions as well as the movement ofblood traveling through the main blood vessels across the pet's neck. Asensor array may also include a temperature sensor to measure thetemperature of the pet's body and an ambient temperature sensor tomeasure the ambient temperature.

A sensor array may also include a microphone 30 c. A sensor array mayfurther include a microphone to listen to special noises made by a petanimal, for example a dog. In the case of a dog, there are abouttwenty-six separate sounds that they normally make. These include thefollowing: barking sounds (including guarding/warning bark, alarmbarking, playing, anxiety, need bark), yelping, growling, howling,eating, drinking, breathing (including normal breathing through the nose(inspiration and expiration), open-mouthed breathing, dry cough, wetcough, stertor, stridor, laryngeal paralysis, wheezing, rales/crackles,bronchio-vesicular sounds), vomiting/retching, regurgitation, grunting,groaning, and panting. Furthermore, each of these types of sounds may befurther subdivided into sounds of those type made by a small dog, madeby a large dog, made by a deep-chested dog and made by a puppy dog.Accordingly, the sounds picked up by a microphone may be interpreted bya processor 40 having an associated memory storage 67 (FIG. 3) of collar10 or a remote processor of a remote computer terminal 69 (FIG. 4)and/or by a processor having access to a dedicated or remote database todetermine the type of sound and its interdependence with other vitalsign bioparameters in order to arrive at a tentative diagnosis, todetermine whether an alert is justified or to suggest treatment.

The sensor array 30 may also include a gyroscope 30 d for capturing thevertical and/or horizontal movement of the pet. In the case of dogs,there are numerous basic dog postures that provide information as towhat the dog is doing and thereby assist in interpreting vital signmeasurements to arrive at a tentative diagnosis. The following basic dogpostures that may be detected by sensor elements 30, for example agyroscope, an accelerometer and/or a magnetometer: lying down laterally,lying down sternally (head up/down), lying on back, sitting, standing onfour legs, standing on back legs, jumping, trotting, running,eating/drinking, urinating (male/female), defecating, limping hind leg,limping front leg, scratching hind leg, shaking leg, turning to lick,and stretching. The processor 40 make receive this information from thesensors 30 and utilize it in reaching a conclusion that it transmitsremotely to the appropriate destination.

Each of the sensors 30 may be activated, de-activated, fine-tuned, setfor predetermined repeated intervals or otherwise calibrated orcontrolled remotely, and in some embodiments also manually by a personlocated at the collar 10. “Remotely” means remote from the collar 10 andmay include by a person in a vital sign monitoring station or a remotelystationed veterinarian or a medical center or the pet owner or theauthorities or any other suitable location.

Collar 10 may further include a remotely-actuatable speaker (not shown)for communicating sounds to the pet animal remotely and may include aremotely actuatable light (such as an LED or other light source) forilluminating the pet animal to those seeking to locate it. The speakerand light may also be actuatable manually in person. The speaker andlight may be situated on or attached to the band 20 and may be includedin a sensor array (even though the light is not a sensor).

As seen from FIG. 3, collar 10 may also include a controller 49 thatincludes a processor 40 that may be affixed to the collar 10 for examplein a housing (not shown) attached to the collar 10. As shown in FIG. 3,processor 40 may also include a processing unit having MicroElectroMechanical Systems (“MEMS”) technology. As also shown from FIG. 3,processor 40 may be hard-wired or otherwise in electronic communicationwith each of the sensor elements 30. Processor 40 may be configured toreceive a signal representing data sensed by one or more of the sensorelements 30 and may be configured to analyze the data and communicatevital sign determinations and other data to a telecommunications system.The vital sign data measured by the sensor elements 30 of collar 10 maybe relayed to and interpreted by processor 40 or by a remote processor(not shown). Processor 40 or the remote processor may execute algorithmsto interpret a collection of the physiological data sensed by the sensorelements and the interdependence of the vital sign data from the sensorelements and may arrive at a tentative diagnosis. The vital sign datamay also include physiological data such as data about the movement ofthe pet animal (or other physiological data such as the saltiness of theanimal's skin) since this physiological data, when combined withfundamental vital signs such as breathing rate, respiration rate, pulse,temperature, etc. may be useful in diagnosis by the veterinarian orremote computer server for the automatic temporary diagnosis by theprocessor 40.

Controller 49 may also include a memory storage 67 for storing healthinformation history of the pet animal, the memory storage accessible bythe processor 40. The memory storage can be a flash memory or othermemory storage devices known in the art.

As shown in FIG. 3, collar 10 may include a communication device 68 suchas a wireless transmitter unit, that may be accompanied by a receivingunit 68 a forming a two-way communication device for communication to aremote station which may include a computer server pre-programmed tointeract with the processor 40 or the remote station may communicationwith or include a veterinarian who can remotely measure vital signsusing the collar's processor to select particular sensor elements to beactivated to measure vital signs of the pet. As shown in FIG. 3, thereis an option for there to be a remote station 70 (which may be a remotecomputer server) which may also alert a pet owner or the authorities bysending an email communication or an SMS alert. The communication devicemay also incorporate short range or long range wireless communicationtechnology such as UHF, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc. and cellular technology.

The collar 10 and/or server computer or other part of the system mayissue an alert based on predefined parameters (e.g. unique priorknowledge regarding the specific animal) and/or behavioral (e.g. erraticor uncharacteristic movements) or vital signs parameters. The specificmeasurements of the animal (height, length, weight etc.) and relevanthistory may be loaded into the device and/or the system during aregistration procedure. The unique identification data of the animal canalso include: the pet animal's name, owner's names, personal details(address, phone number etc.), medical information concerning the pet andany other relevant data. The information may be included in theprocessing by processor 40 when the processor 40 analyzes data from thesensor elements 30.

A GPS device may be incorporated into collar 10. The GPS device couldtake the form, for example, of an integrated circuit or an RFID. Otherlocation awareness technology may also be incorporated into the collar10.

The receiving unit 68 attached to or incorporated into the collar 10 maybe a smart phone, mobile (and/or hand-held) device, or any othercommunication/messaging device, or a specifically designed receiver orreader. The receiving unit 68 may be connected to the collar 10 in awired and/or wireless manner as mentioned above. The receiving unit 68may be detachable from the collar 10 for direct connection to a computerterminal, in order to enable faster or more secure downloading of stored(and in some cases processed) sensor data.

The collar 10 and/or system may gather analytical information includingstatistics, trend analysis, comparative analysis etc. regardingparticular pets, particular breeds of pets or particular species ofanimals. The system may incorporate a social network for other animalowners for the purpose of sharing information.

As shown in FIG. 10, the present invention may also be described as amethod 100 of monitoring vital signs of a pet animal. Method 100 mayinclude a step 110 of providing an elastic band configured to wraparound a portion of the pet animal and having a working surface and arear surface, at least one sensor element situated at one or moreregions along a circumference of the band and configured to measure atleast one bioparameter from the following bioparameters: temperature,heart rate, respiration rate, movement. Another step 120 of method 100may be configuring the elastic band with at least one acousticconcentrator projecting from the working surface toward the portion ofthe pet animal, the at least one acoustic concentrator situated at theone or more regions along the circumference and on a first side of theat least one sensor.

Step 130 may involve configuring the elastic band with at least oneacoustic balancer projecting from the rear surface and situated at theone or more regions along the circumference and on a second side of theat least one sensor element, the at least one left acoustic balancerlocated in a position along the circumference at least partly behind theat least one acoustic concentrator.

Step 140 of method 100 may be transmitting electronic signals from, thesensor elements to a processor, the signals reflecting vital signmeasurements of the pet animal.

Method 100 may also have other steps. The structure of the acousticconcentrators and of the acoustic balancers in method 100 may includeany of the options mentioned with respect to the collar 10. For example,in some preferred embodiments, method 100 may have a step of configuringat least one acoustic concentrator to be wider at a concentrator baseend adjacent the working surface than at a concentrator top end, andconfiguring at least one left acoustic balancer to be wider at abalancer base end adjacent the rear surface than at a balancer top end.Some versions of method 100 may also include a step of configuring atleast one acoustic concentrator to be semi-spherical. Method 100 mayalso have a step of configuring a concentrator base end of at least oneacoustic concentrator to comprise an X-shape, for example as shown inFIG. 4B with perpendicular diameters. Some preferred embodiments ofmethod 100 may include a step of configuring a balancer base end of atleast one acoustic balancer to comprise an X shape, for example as shownin FIG. 7B. Method 10 may also have a step of configuring across-section of at least one acoustic concentrator 22 (and/or at leastone acoustic balancer 24) to be shaped like an X.

Method 100 can also have a step of configuring the processor that is inelectronic communication with the sensor elements to be situated on thecollar. There can also be a step of transmitting the signals from theprocessor on the collar to a remote station. In another embodiment, astep of method 100 may be configuring the processor to be a remoteprocessor that is in electronic communication with the sensor elements.

Method 100 can also include a step of configuring the acousticconcentrators to perform a dual function of simultaneously (i) reducinga signal to noise ratio of the signal transmitted from the sensorelements to the processor and (ii) reducing total noise by reducingrelative movement between the collar and the pet animal's head when thepet animal's head moves. In some versions, method 100 can include thestep of configuring the at least one acoustic concentrators to perform adual function of simultaneously (i) improving an ability of the collarto convert low mechanical pulses to electrical signals of reasonablemagnitude for transmission to the processor and (ii) reducing totalnoise by reducing relative movement between the collar and the petanimal's head when the pet animal's head moves.

Method 100 can also comprise having the at least one acousticconcentrators operate in conjunction with the at least one acousticbalancers to improve the ability of the collar to convert the lowmechanical pulses to the electrical signals of reasonable magnitude.Further, the method 100 may include conforming a shape of a particularacoustic balancer of the at least one acoustic balancer to a shape of aparticular acoustic balancer of the least one acoustic concentrator thatthe particular acoustic balancer is at least partly behind.

Some versions of method have a step of providing that each acousticconcentrator of the at least two acoustic concentrators has a similarshape to an oppositely placed (one on one vertical side of the least onesensor element on another one the other vertical side of the at leastone sensor element) acoustic balancer of the at least two acousticbalancers. Furthermore, method 100 may include situating the at leasttwo acoustic concentrators and the at least two acoustic balancers sothat one acoustic concentrator is directly opposite one correspondingacoustic balancer. The preferred position may be having a particularacoustic balancer right behind a particular acoustic concentrator. Otherembodiments may have them configured slightly differently such that theacoustic balancer is within a small distance (for example one millimeter(mm) or 2 mm or 3 mm or 4 mm or 5 mm) of the point right behind theacoustic concentrator.

In method 100, the sensors 30 may be placed symmetrically so that atleast one sensor is on one side of the neck of the pet animal facing anartery and a matching number of sensors may be on an opposite side ofthe neck of the pet animal facing an artery. For example, there may beone sensor on one side and one sensor on the other side or two sensorson one side of the animal and two sensors on the other side. The sensorson the opposite sides of the animal may be connected in parallelelectrically so as to form a single distributed sensor.

The method may also include, in some embodiments, a step of transmittingvital sign measurements to the pet owner, a veterinarian, a remotecomputer server or the authorities when the vital sign measurementexceeds a threshold level. Accordingly, processor 40 may be programmedto compare data received from the sensor elements to threshold levels ofrespiration rate, heart rate, temperature, movement, blood pressure,and/or other physiological data, such as noises made by a dog.Furthermore, the processor may have access to software in controller 49that utilizes a function or a formula to relate combinations of thesensor element data. For example, if a dog moves in a certain way andutters a certain noise, that may trigger a particular alert ordiagnosis. In addition, the programmer 40 may have access to its owndata comparing the physiological data of a particular vital sign orcombination of vital signs to the average vital sign data for pets ofthat species, that breed and that geographical location, taking intoconsideration the ambient temperature and the medical history of thepet. The controller/processor may transmit an alert to the pet owner, toa veterinarian or to the authorities.

The processor 40 affixed to the collar 10 may be in electroniccommunication with each of the at least four sensor elements. Theprocessor 40 may control a timing of an “ON” status of each sensorsufficient to trigger taking of a vital sign measurement. The memorystorage unit 68 may store data regarding the power requirements of eachof the sensor elements in a sensor array (not shown) as well as thelifespan of the battery or other power source in collar 10.Alternatively, this data may be accessible by the processor 40 sinceprocessor 40 may be in communication with remote databases. As a result,the processor 40 may be configured to calculate the timing of the “ON”status of a sensor element (or of two or more or all the sensorelements) based on power requirements of the at least four sensors and alifespan of the power source. In addition, processor 40 may receivesensor data from, the sensor elements and communicate vital sign statusof the pet animal to a remote location. The processor 40 may reachoverall conclusions as to whether the pet has a particular medicalcondition by accessing databases and utilizing software containingdiagnostic algorithms.

Particular features described in the context of one embodiment may beable to be incorporated into other embodiments for which that featurewas not specifically mentioned.

The following are non-limiting examples of vital sign and/or otherphysiological data for dogs acquired from sensor elements 30. Ingeneral, dog sounds recorded by a microphone may be combined withinformation from other sensor elements 30 regarding dog postures and dogmovements and this may be further combined with information from othersensor elements 30 such as temperature, respiration rate and pulse andother available data such as the time of day, the ambient temperature,the pet's normal behavior, the context etc. The processor 40 may reachconclusions about the presence of a high probability of medicalconditions suffered by dogs or cats or other pet animals, such ashypothermia, hyperthermia, slow heart rate, normal or abnormal sinusarrhythmia, ear infections, torn ligaments, gastric dilatation, dyspnea,gastritis, pruritus and osteoarthritis. For example, hypothermia occurswhen heat loss/output exceeds heat production. It can happen in coldweather, especially to small or sick animals, or under sedation oranesthesia. If low body temperature is recorded by the sensor elements30 at a time when the ambient temperature is very cold, an alert may besent. In another case, if a slower than normal heart rate is detected bysensor elements 30 in a pet animal the movements of the pet animal maybe checked to determine if an alert needs to be sent. In general, thepulse rate may be compared to the respiration rate over time to see ifthe heart rate increases when the animal takes a breath. Regarding earinfections in a dog, if the sensor 30 input indicates movementsconsistent with an ear infections and the microphone sensor indicatessounds of pain when the ears are touched, an alert may be sent.Inflammation of the bones and joints is a common disease of older dogs.If the sensor input indicates decreased or change in activity relativeto the time of day and sounds of pain, an alert may be transmitted.

Applicant has conducted experiments in which particular configurationsof the acoustic concentrators and particular configurations of theacoustic concentrators were tested. Both the size and the configurationof the base ends were varied. Surprisingly, Applicant found that havingthe base end of the acoustic concentrators and balancers shaped in theform of crossing lines, for example perpendicular diameters at the baseend of a hollow acoustic concentrator/balancer, with a circularperimeter, as shown in FIG. 4B, may reduce unwanted oscillations whilestill minimizing other parasitic decay effects (such as “shelf”) and mayyield a stable signal.

Applicant's experiments of various configurations and combinations ofconfigurations between the bumps on the working surface (acousticconcentrators) and the bumps on the rear surface (acoustic balancers 24yielded some unexpected conclusions. For example, the X-shaped base endform may be the best choice for the working surface of the elastomer, incertain preferred embodiments. The height of the X-shape acousticconcentrator or balancer may not produce a significant impact on thequality of the signal, but there may be a slight advantage for greaterheight of the bump (on either the working surface or on the rearsurface). Typically, the range of heights tested varied from 5millimeters to 7 millimeters. In addition, the configuration of thebumps on the rear surface (acoustic balancers) may have a strong impacton the quality of the signal produced. Solid non-spherical shapedreferred to as “bulky forms”, as illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8B, may havesome positive effect of signal attenuation so as to reduce or eliminateor minimize parasitic oscillations. On the other hand, as the back sidebump is heavier (less hollow) the pulses were found to be shorter, whichmay be a disadvantage since it makes processing of the signal morecomplicated. Preferably, there should be a good balance between the massof the bump on both working and rear surfaces and the bump form in orderto achieve an optimal signal.

Reference to a semi-cylindrical acoustic concentrator 22 or balancer 24,as used herein, means that the bump comprising the concentrator 22 orbalancer 24 has a shape like a half-cylinder that comes into being whena cylinder has been cut in two along its length (longitudinally). Thebisecting plane may be used as the plane at the concentrator base end 23of the acoustic concentrator 22 or at the balancer base end 27 of theacoustic balancer 24. The term “about” means plus or minus 5%.

This patent application hereby incorporates by reference in its entiretythe Applicant's previously filed US Patent Application havingPublication No. 20130014706 published Jan. 17, 2013 having the Title“Pet Animal Collar for Health and Vital Signs Monitoring, Alert &Diagnosis” and having a filing date of Feb. 21, 2012.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited numberof embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations,modifications and other applications of the invention may be made.Therefore, the claimed invention as recited in the claims that follow isnot limited to the embodiments described herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. An acoustically enhanced collar fornon-invasively monitoring vital signs of a pet animal, wherein the petanimal is a dog or cat and has skin, the collar comprising: a bandcomprising a layer of an elastic material, the band having a workingsurface configured to wrap around a portion of the pet animal and a rearsurface facing an opposite direction to the working surface; a pluralityof sensor elements situated at one or more regions along a circumferenceof the band, the plurality of sensor elements including: (A) at leastone acoustic sensor configured to measure at least one of heart rate andrespiration rate and configured to output at least one signalrepresenting vital sign data for the at least one of heart rate andrespiration, the at least one acoustic sensor including at least onepiezoelectric element embedded in the band, at least two acousticconcentrators integrally formed with the band and projecting, toward abody portion of the pet animal from the working surface at the one ormore regions along the circumference, the at least two acousticconcentrators conveying an acoustic signal to the band containing the atleast one piezoelectric element; at least two acoustic balancersintegrally formed with the band and projecting from the rear surface atthe one or more regions along the circumference, the at least twoacoustic balancers situated at the region along the circumference atleast partly behind the at least two acoustic concentrators, the atleast two acoustic balancers configured to balance the acoustic signalconveyed by the at least two acoustic concentrators against noise andthereby increase a readability, in terms of signal to noise ratio, of anacoustic signal provided to the at least one acoustic sensor, each ofthe at least two acoustic concentrators tapered inwardly from aconcentrator base end to a concentrator top end, the concentrator topend distal from the band, and each of the at least two acousticbalancers tapered inwardly from a balancer base end to a balancer topend, the balancer top end distal from the band each of the at least twoacoustic concentrators configured in shape to penetrate a fur of the petanimal, touch the skin of a neck portion of the pet at an area of anartery of the pet and conduct the at least one signal from the neckportion to the at least one acoustic sensor; and (B) one or both of: (i)one or more temperature sensors to measure temperature and (ii) at leastone of an accelerometer, a gyroscope and a magnetometer sensor tomeasure at least one of movement and posture.
 2. The collar of claim 1,wherein a region of the one or more regions along the circumferencewhere at least one of the at least two acoustic concentrators is locatedoverlaps with a region of the one or more regions along thecircumference where at least one of the at least two balancers islocated.
 3. The collar of claim 1, wherein the at least two acousticconcentrators and the at least two acoustic balancers are made of a samematerial as the band.
 4. The collar of claim 1, wherein the at least twoacoustic concentrators and the at least two acoustic balancers arecircular in at least one dimension.
 5. The collar of claim 1, whereinthe at least two acoustic concentrators and the at least two acousticbalancers are configured such that the signal-to-noise ratio of the atleast one signal is from 20 decibels to 40 decibels.
 6. The collar ofclaim 1, wherein the at least two acoustic concentrators and the atleast two acoustic balancers are configured such that thesignal-to-noise ratio of the at least one signal is at least 20decibels.
 7. The collar of claim 1, wherein at least one of thefollowing is true: (i) each of the at least two acoustic concentratorsis longest in a dimension perpendicular to the piezoelectric element,(ii) each of the at least two acoustic balancers is longest in adirection perpendicular to the piezoelectric element.
 8. The collar ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of sensor elements is configured tomeasure both posture and movement.
 9. The collar of claim 1, wherein theat least two acoustic concentrators comprise at least three acousticconcentrators.
 10. The collar of claim 1, wherein the at least onepiezoelectric element comprises two physically separated piezoelectricelements connected electrically, each of the two physically separatedpiezoelectric elements is positioned on opposite sides of the neckportion of the animal.
 11. The collar of claim 1, wherein the one ormore temperature sensors includes a body temperature sensor and anambient temperature sensor.
 12. The collar of claim 1, wherein theplurality of sensor elements is configured to measure at least thefollowing bioparameters: temperature, heart rate, movement and posture.13. The collar of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensor elements isconfigured to measure temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, postureand movement.
 14. The collar of claim 1, wherein a processor executesalgorithms to interpret an interdependence of the vital sign data toarrive at a tentative diagnosis.
 15. The collar of claim 1, wherein theat least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope and a magnetometercomprises an accelerometer for sensing posture and movement of the petanimal and outputting at least one signal representing vital sign datafor the posture and movement of the pet animal.
 16. The collar of claim1, wherein each of the at least two acoustic concentrators are taperedinwardly along at least half a distance from the concentrator base endto the concentrator top end and each of the at least two acousticbalancers are tapered inwardly along at least half a distance from thebalancer base end to the balancer top end.
 17. A system comprising: I.an acoustically enhanced collar for non-invasively monitoring vitalsigns of a pet animal, wherein the pet animal is a dog or cat and hasskin, the collar comprising: a band comprising a layer of an elasticmaterial, the band having a working surface configured to wrap around aportion of the pet animal and a rear surface facing an oppositedirection to the working surface; a plurality of sensor elementssituated at one or more regions along a circumference of the band, theplurality of sensor elements including: (A) at least one acoustic sensorconfigured to measure at least one of heart rate and respiration rateand configured to output at least one signal representing vital signdata for the at least one of heart rate and respiration, the at leastone acoustic sensor including at least one piezoelectric elementembedded in the band, at least two acoustic concentrators integrallyformed with the band and projecting, toward a body portion of the petanimal from the working surface at the one or more regions along thecircumference, the at least two acoustic concentrators conveying anacoustic signal to the band containing the at least one piezoelectricelement; at least two acoustic balancers integrally formed with the bandand projecting from the rear surface at the one or more regions alongthe circumference, the at least two acoustic balancers situated at theregion along the circumference at least partly behind the at least twoacoustic concentrators, the at least two acoustic balancers configuredto balance the acoustic signal conveyed by the at least two acousticconcentrators against noise and thereby increase a readability, in termsof signal to noise ratio, of an acoustic signal provided to the at leastone acoustic sensor, each of the at least two acoustic concentratorstapered inwardly from a concentrator base end to a concentrator top end,the concentrator top end distal from the band, and each of the at leasttwo acoustic balancers tapered inwardly from a balancer base end to abalancer top end, the balancer top end distal from the band each of theat least two acoustic concentrators configured in shape to penetrate afur of the pet animal, touch the skin of a neck portion of the pet at anarea of an artery of the pet and conduct the at least one signal fromthe neck portion to the at least one acoustic sensor; and (B) one orboth of: (i) one or more temperature sensors to measure temperature and(ii) at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope and a magnetometersensor to measure at least one of movement and posture; and II. aprocessor configured by software to execute algorithms to interpret aninterdependence of the vital sign bioparameter data to arrive at atentative diagnosis of the pet animal and wherein the at least one vitalsign bioparameter includes temperature, movement and posture.
 18. Asystem comprising: I. an acoustically enhanced collar for non-invasivelymonitoring vital signs of a pet animal, wherein the pet animal is a dogor cat and has skin, the collar comprising: a band comprising a layer ofan elastic material, the band having a working surface configured towrap around a portion of the pet animal and a rear surface facing anopposite direction to the working surface; a plurality of sensorelements situated at one or more regions along a circumference of theband, the plurality of sensor elements including: (A) at least oneacoustic sensor configured to measure at least one of heart rate andrespiration rate and configured to output at least one signalrepresenting vital sign data for the at least one of heart rate andrespiration, the at least one acoustic sensor including at least onepiezoelectric element embedded in the band, at least two acousticconcentrators integrally formed with the band and projecting, toward abody portion of the pet animal from the working surface at the one ormore regions along the circumference, the at least two acousticconcentrators conveying an acoustic signal to the band containing the atleast one piezoelectric element; at least two acoustic balancersintegrally formed with the band and projecting from the rear surface atthe one or more regions along the circumference, the at least twoacoustic balancers situated at the region along the circumference atleast partly behind the at least two acoustic concentrators, the atleast two acoustic balancers configured to balance the acoustic signalconveyed by the at least two acoustic concentrators against noise andthereby increase a readability, in terms of signal to noise ratio, of anacoustic signal provided to the at least one acoustic sensor, each ofthe at least two acoustic concentrators tapered inwardly from aconcentrator base end to a concentrator top end, the concentrator topend distal from the band, and each of the at least two acousticbalancers tapered inwardly from a balancer base end to a balancer topend, the balancer top end distal from the band each of the at least twoacoustic concentrators configured in shape to penetrate a fur of the petanimal, touch the skin of a neck portion of the pet at an area of anartery of the pet and conduct the at least one signal from the neckportion to the at least one acoustic sensor; and (B) one or both of: (i)one or more temperature sensors to measure temperature and (ii) at leastone of an accelerometer, a gyroscope and a magnetometer sensor tomeasure at least one of movement and posture; and II. one or moreprocessors, wherein the plurality of sensor elements and the one or moreprocessors are configured to detect each of the following: an indicationof the dog lying down laterally, an indication of the dog lying downsternally (head up/down), an indication of the dog sitting, anindication of the dog standing on four legs and an indication of the dogexhibiting a posture associated with eating and drinking.